Anti-Semitic graffiti painted on Jewish Agency building in Russia

(JTA) — Anti-Semitic graffiti was painted on the Jewish Agency for Israel’s building in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The graffiti, including swastikas, was painted on the building and a neighboring building last weekend, and was acknowledged by the Jewish Agency in a statement released Thursday. The words “All of you – to Buchenwald” appeared in large letters on the side of a facing building in the city center.

Several Jewish organizations are in the same neighborhood as the Jewish Agency building, which has no sign indicating its presence.

One of the swastikas was painted next to a sign for the Jewish University, a Jewish organization housed in the building.

Some 100,000 Jews live in St. Petersburg and Jewish community life is vibrant there, according to the Jewish Agency.

Amon Hermon, the head of The Jewish Agency Task Force on Anti-Semitism, said in recent days that his agency has seen a surge in anti-Semitic incidents, primarily in Western Europe.

"The incidents generally involve hateful graffiti targeting Jews," he said, "but some have also included violence."